Mumford & Sons / CoOp Live / Manchester

Dec 6

Dec 6 Mumford & Sons / CoOp Live / Manchester

A trip to Manchester and the incredible CoOp Live arena, which opened in 2024 on the Etihad stadium site, just north east of the city centre. An impressive structure, a fitting location for Mumford & Sons return to live shows.

First up in support is American singer-songwriter Sierra Ferrell from West Virginia, whose musical style incorporates country, folk, bluegrass, and gypsy jazz. Sierra self-released her frist two albums “Pretty Magic Spell” in 2018 and “Washington by the Sea” in 2019. These were followed by “Long Time Coming” in 2021 with her most recent album in 2024 “Trail of Flowers”, which won her four Grammy Awards.

Taking to the stage in a magnificent and flamboyant dress, she looks like someone stepping right out of Tombstone and the wild west. Her band are Oliver Bates Craven (fiddle), Matty Meyer (drums), Geoff Saunders (bass), Mike Robinson (acoustic guitar, banjo, and pedal steel) and Joshua Rilko (mandolin). All dressed sharply in stetsons, and white shirts.

Visually stunning, the set itself lived up to the visuals. Everything revolves around Sierra’s powerful voice which has an impressive range. My favourite track of the set had to be Kickin’ Up Dust, a delightful country track, which has an easy and laid back vibe. It has a classic country tone to it.

Sierra ends the set with Fox Hunt which is a barnstormer of a track. Which fills the CoOp Live with a wall of sound, and had the crowd foot stompin’ along.

I hadn’t come a cross Sierra Ferrell before, but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Setlist

I Could Drive You Crazy

Jeremiah

Bells of Every Chapel

Years

Kickin’ Up Dust

American Dreaming

Dollar Bill Bar

Fox Hunt

Mumford & Sons were formed in London in 2007. The current lineup consists of Marcus Mumford (vocals, guitar & drums), Ted Dwane (vocals & bass), and Ben Lovett (vocals & keyboards). They have released five studio albums, from 2009’s debut “Sigh No More” which reached £2 in the UK album chart, to 2025’s “Rushmere”. A new album entitled “Prizefighter” is set for release in spring 2026.In 2013, Mumford & Sons headlined at the Glastonbury Festival.

And before we know it, its time for the headliners. The lights dropped and the trio step out onto the stage to huge applause from the 20,000 crowd. After a six year live absence, they start the set not with a classic hit to get the crowd going, but with Run Together a new track from the forthcoming album “Prizefighter”. It feels a brave move, a statement that it’s a out the future not the past, and a brave move that works flawlessly. The crowd lap it up, led by a powerful brass bassline, it shows a new invigorated band. Marcus, Ted and Ben look like they are loving every moment of the experience, and it shows in the performance.

The recognisable Little Lion Man is met by roars of approval from the crowd, a powerful track that fills the space, and reminds us why they are a genuine arena band.

Marcus is a born showman, moving freely, and conversing with the crowd, at times climbing down to run along the crowd.

The pace slows for a brace of acoustic tracks in Ghosts That We Knew and a beautifully delicate version of Guiding Light. Its light and delicate and a stunning element of the show.

The hits keep on rolling, with The Cave and Roll Away Your Stone, which have the arena rocking, before we enjoy a new track with Rushmere which fits right in along the classics and gets a rousing reception.

I have to give mention to the set. The stage itself is simply set, with two large screens at the back projecting live footage of the band members, but the light show is simply incredible. It rises high into the rafters above, with birds and flowers rising high like large Christmas street lights, and at the top a metal frame, lit creating a stunning light effect like a crown on top.

The highlight has to be, perhaps the simplest part of the show, with the three of them, all huddled around a single mic for an acoustic performance of Timshel. A stunning moment, the vocals crisp and clear and the entire crowd stand/sit in awe.

It’s followed by Awake My Soul lights the fire again and has the place rocking, before an extended version of I Will Wait sees the audience take the lead, singing loud and proud, drowning out Mumford & Sons to Marcus’s delight.

And to end the show, they sign off the way they started, with an unreleased track, the fantastic Conversation With My Son (Gangsters & Angels).

Mumford & Sons came to Manchester not just to carry on, but to make a statement, to re-ignite and to forge a new future, and judging by tonight’s experience…. Long may it continue !

Setlist

Run Together

Babel

Rubber Band Man

Little Lion Man

Hopeless Wanderer

Lover of the Light

Believe

Truth

Here (with Sierra Ferrell)

Ghosts That We Knew

Caroline (acoustic)